Eric Chelle has opened up on the path that led him to becoming head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, revealing that the appointment came through a formal application process — not through connections or back channels, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 47-year-old French-born former Mali international was officially named Nigeria’s head coach in January 2025, succeeding Augustine Eguavoen, who had served in an interim capacity.
Chelle’s appointment came as a surprise to many Nigerians, especially with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) previously in talks with more high-profile European names like former Sweden boss Janne Andersson and ex-Bayer Leverkusen manager Bruno Labbadia.
Instead, the NFF turned to Chelle, making him the first non-Nigerian African to manage the Super Eagles — a decision that drew criticism from some quarters due to his modest profile and limited top-level coaching experience.
Despite guiding Mali to the quarterfinals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Chelle’s only major international tournament, doubts persisted.
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His previous experience had been with lower-division French sides like FC Martigues and US Boulogne before taking the Mali job in May 2022.
What did Eric Chelle say?
In response to speculation over how he secured Nigeria’s top football job, Chelle explained that the process was professional and merit-based.
“When I left the Malian team, there was a call for applications from the NFF, from the Nigerian Federation and so I applied like any other coach and then interview came,” Chelle told the CANAL+ SPORT Afrique in French (translated by Soccernet.ng).
“I was invited to a coaches’ conference where I presented my project or my vision and philosophy. I thought it would happen much faster but due to some events, I had to wait, so I left. I left for Rouen, but then it’s true that I had this opportunity which I risk losing. So I returned. For this great project.”
Chelle had just taken charge of Algerian side MC Oran in October 2024 when Nigeria’s interest intensified. Once convinced of the NFF's commitment to his vision, he didn’t hesitate.
“In the final moments of negotiation, you felt their determination and that made me come,” he added.
“We were in discussions since before then. It took a while, but then it accelerated. It was very very fast, maybe that’s why it made a big buzz there, but no no no once again I was aligned on what I wanted to do.”
Born on November 11, 1977, in Côte d’Ivoire to a Malian mother and French father, Chelle spent his entire playing career in France, turning out for clubs like Martigues, Valenciennes, and Lens, winning Ligue 2 titles with both Valenciennes (2005) and Lens (2009).
Though he played just five times for Mali between 2004 and 2006, Chelle’s experience in French football and his recent AFCON exploits with Mali have now positioned him at the helm of one of Africa’s most high-profile national teams.
His coaching journey began in 2014 as an assistant at GS Consolat before earning head coaching roles at Martigues and Boulogne.
His biggest managerial milestone, however, was leading Mali to an impressive 2023 AFCON quarterfinal finish — before parting ways in June 2024 after a goalless World Cup qualifier against ten-man Madagascar.
